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Re: Feedback - Radioactive-waste bunkers `unsafe'
Richard,
Thank you for your message. Please I understood very well your point.
a) About background I use to spend about one month per year, as part of my
activities in Brazil, for about 15 years in Guarapary one of the highest
background in the world. The external radiation levels on monazite sands
range up to 5 mrad/hr (50 µGy/hr), which is almost 400 times the normal
background of your area, as you have mentioned: "(near to and presumably
similar to San Diego) of about 90-100mREM/yr." Some of the major streets
have radiation levels as high as 0.13 mrad/hr (1.3 µGy/hr), which is more
than 10 times your background area.
To have a general idea, look at this Japanese Site,
http://www.taishitsu.or.jp/radiation/index-e.html
And in particular in Brazilian Guarapary:
http://www.taishitsu.or.jp/radiation/guarapari-e.html
The levels of our delicious Brazil-Nuts is about 5,600 pCi/Kg K-40 and
(1,000-7,000) pCi/Kg Ra-226 - I am sure most of our HP colleagues enjoy
Brazil-Nuts, as well most of American Citizenz.
Recent reference: Environmental Radioactivity from Natural, Industrial and
Military Sources, Eisenbud, M and Gesell T. Academic Press, Inc. 1997.
b) I enjoy discussion on risk perception and management, considering workers
and public attitudes and sentiments, because my own experience, in Guarapari
and others Brazilian high background areas, and being involved in response
of many real emergency activities, the most important coordinating the
emergency response in the Radiological Accident in Goiania. In fact, I have
to move to Goiania, where I spent two years, to conduct the Brazilian
Project of the Repository to keep the waste due that Radiological Accident.
I can understand very well feelings due fear and lost of life and
properties.
c) Only as curiosity on Risk, I recommend a look at the site:
http://www.pollutionengineering.com/archives/1996/pol1101.96/11edit0.htm
Brazil Nuts Help Explain Radioactive Risk
Jose Julio Rozental
joseroze@netvision.net.il
Israel
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard L. Hess <lists@richardhess.com>
To: J. J. Rozental <joseroze@netvision.net.il>; Radsafe
<radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: Feedback - Radioactive-waste bunkers `unsafe'
Hi, J.J.,
I'm sorry, I did not mean to come across as picking on you for posting
that. I understand the need. I was expressing a frustration with the
report, not with you!
Someone off list mentioned to me that the 2.5 chest x-rays were equal to
about 20mREM if done on competent machines by competent operators.
With background in my area (near to and presumably similar to San Diego) of
about 90-100mREM/yr, and the fact that this radioactivity is buried under
tons of used diapers and melon rinds as well as an earth cover, and the
fact that few people opt to live next to or in dumps in the U.S., I don't
see how the waste disposal can affect anyone, but the news report sure did
enough to scare you!
The DISCOVER article should be pointed out to as many friendly newshounds
as we can find.
Cheers,
Richard
At 10:25 AM 11/8/2002 +0200, J. J. Rozental wrote:
>Richard,
>
>My purpose was only to send feedback information, I don't know how to
>answer your question. Probably some American colleagues could do
>it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
> About news from press, TV and individuals, it is very important to
> understand human attitude. I think we must be curious, open, and
> interested toward a better identification of roots and reasons and with
> the opportunity to influence people for a better radiation safety
discernment.
>
>Jose
><mailto:joseroze@netvision.net.il>joseroze@netvision.net.il
>Israel
>
>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <mailto:lists@richardhess.com>Richard L. Hess
>>To: <mailto:joseroze@netvision.net.il>J. J. Rozental ;
>><mailto:radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>Radsafe
>>Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 9:05 PM
>>Subject: Re: Feedback - Radioactive-waste bunkers `unsafe'
>>
>>Hi, J.J.,
>>
>>I'll pick on just one. What is the level of radioactivity and the
>>exposure levels (immediate and long term) in the case of the San Diego
dumps?
>>
>>I wouldn't live near a dump for many reasons--rotting melon rinds don't
>>smell too good, for example.
>>
>>So the inverse square law is ignored? Once again there was no information
>>provided to help people assess the information.
>>
>>I'm SO TIRED of TV News. It's about exciting the public, I fear...and
>>ratings.
>>
>>Cheers?
>>
>>Richard
>>
>>At 04:11 PM 11/7/2002 +0200, J. J. Rozental wrote:
>>>
>>>----------
>>><http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sand/news/stories/news-176232420021104
-161113.html>http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/sand/news/stories/news-176232
420021104-161113.html
>>>
>>>THE SAN DIEGIO NEWS
>>>November 4, 2002
>>>
>>>Low-Level Radioactive Waste Dumped In Local Landfills
>>>State Claims Radioactive Material Is Safe
>>>
>>>SAN DIEGO -- Low-level radioactive material is being dumped in San Diego
>>>landfills, and some of it may be in your home, 10News has reported.
>>>
>>>Most Californians believe that any radioactivity is dangerous, but the
>>>state of California apparently has other ideas.
>>>
>>>----------
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